Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfrado2&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFRADO2’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; spray-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray florets and vivid yellow-colored disc florets; resistance to Fusarium; relative tolerance to high temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFRADO2’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Feb. 12, 2020

Ser. No. 62/995,750

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S.Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

An European Community Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instantplant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk,The Netherlands on Jul. 29, 2019, application number 2019/1847.

A Mexican Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Nov. 14, 2019, application number 3062.

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Jun. 24, 2020, application number A202686.

A South African Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plantwas filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Sep. 3, 2020, application number PT 9275.

A Malaysian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant wasfiled by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B.V. of Maasdijk, TheNetherlands on Sep. 29, 2020, application number PVBT 047/20.

Foreign priority is not claimed to any of these applications.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications noradvertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distributionoccurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of thisapplication. Any information about the claimed plant would have beenobtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from theInventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assigneeclaim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosureand/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior tothe effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium,typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referredto by the name ‘DLFRADO2’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective ofthe breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plantmutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘Deliradost’, not patented. Thenew Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a singleflowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘Deliradost’ in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in July,2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings since July, 2013 has shown that the unique features ofthis new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under allpossible combinations of environmental conditions and culturalpractices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DLFRADO2’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DLFRADO2’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemumplant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.    -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.    -   5. Spray-type inflorescences with bright yellow-colored ray        florets and vivid yellow-colored disc florets.    -   6. Resistant to Fusarium.    -   7. Relatively tolerant to high temperatures.    -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of themutation parent, ‘Deliradost’, in ray floret color as ray florets ofplants of the new Chrysanthemum are bright yellow in color whereas rayflorets of plants of ‘Deliradost’ are white in color. In addition,plants of the new Chrysanthemum flower about three days later thanplants of ‘Deliradost’.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants ofChrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Radost Yellow’, not patented. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differprimarily from plants of ‘Radost Yellow’ in disc florets asinflorescences of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have larger discs thaninflorescences of plants of ‘Radost Yellow’. In addition, plants of thenew Chrysanthemum flower about four days earlier than plants of ‘RadostYellow’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFRADO2’ grown as a spray-type cutflower.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper(top of the photographic sheet) and lower (bottom of the photographicsheet) surfaces of typical leaves (left) and inflorescences (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the late spring in ground bedsin a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and undercultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production.Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed byshort day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation anddevelopment. During the production of the plants, day temperaturesranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown assingle-stem spray-type plants and were eleven weeks old when thephotographs and the description were taken. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFRADO2’.-   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum    x morifolium ‘Deliradost’, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut            flower that is typically grown as a single stem spray-type;            upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth            rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 78.9            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence            plane.—About 83.7 cm.        -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 18.3 cm.        -   Flowering stem length.—About 75.3 cm.        -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 7 mm.        -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.4 cm.        -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.        -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.        -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately to densely            pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.        -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 144A and at the            nodes, close to 143A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 11.2 cm. Width: About 6.6 cm. Shape, in outline: Ovate            to oblong. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base: Attenuate.            Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely serrate to dentate;            sinuses divergent and medium to deep in depth. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not rugose;            moderately velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster,            lower surface: Densely pubescent, prominent venation;            slightly velvety; very slightly glossy. Venation pattern:            Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Developing leaves, lower            surface: Close to 144A. Fully developed leaves, upper            surface: Close to 137A; venation, close to 146C. Fully            developed leaves, lower surface: Close to between 138A and            147B; venation, close to 146D. Petioles: Length: About            2.2 cm. Diameter: About 2.75 mm by 4 mm. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately pubescent; moderately glossy. Color,            upper surface: Close to 146B; edges, close to 137A to 137B.            Color, lower surface: Close to 146D; edges, close to 137B to            137C. Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,            opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:            About 2 mm. Width: About 0.2 mm. Shape, in outline: Deltoid.            Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent;            slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; very slightly glossy. Color: Upper surface: Close            to 137A; venation, close to 146C. Lower surface: Close to            between 138A and 147B; venation, close to 146D.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Spray-type inflorescence form with            obovate-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;            inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face            upright; ray and disc florets develop acropetally on a            capitulum.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.        -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower            in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other            times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development            can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at            least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and            short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long            day/short night conditions after planting followed by            photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about            49 days later when grown as a spray-type.        -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;            after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain            good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior            environment; inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,            about 31 inflorescences develop per flowering stem.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About            6.5 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 2.4 cm.            Disc diameter: About 2.4 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 4 mm.            Shape: Broadly ovate. Color: Close to 145A.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1 cm. Diameter: About            1.3 cm. Shape: Flattened globular to roughly globular.            Texture and luster: Distally, smooth and glabrous;            proximally, sparsely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:            Darker than 143A to 143C; immature ray florets, close to 2A            to 2B.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 40 arranged in            about two whorls. Length: About 3.1 cm, varying between 2.2            cm and 3.7 cm. Width: About 0.9 cm, varying between 0.7 cm            and 1.1 cm. Shape: Obovate; moderately carinate. Apex:            Obtuse to retuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire, strongly            involute; not undulate. Aspect: About 30° to 40° from            vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; very slightly glossy.            Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to 2A. When            opening, lower surface: Close to 3B. Fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 2A to slightly lighter than 2A; venation,            similar to lamina color; color becoming closer to 2B to            slightly lighter than 2B with development. Fully opened,            lower surface: Close to 3C; venation, similar to lamina            color; color does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 190 massed at            the center of the receptacle. Length: About 1.2 cm, varying            between 0.5 cm and 1.7 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm, varying            between 1 mm and 5 mm. Shape: Lower 85% fused into a tube;            upper 15% free. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin, free-part:            Entire. Texture and luster, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous;            moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster, outer            surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; very slightly glossy.            Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to            145C; towards the apex, close to N144B. Color, fully opened,            inner surface: Close to 2A. Color, fully opened, outer            surface: Close to 3B.        -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 16            arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 1 cm. Width:            About 4.5 mm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate. Apex: Obtuse.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower            surface: Sparsely to moderately pubescent; matte. Color,            upper surface: Close to 143A; lateral margins, translucent            and close to 157D and apical margins slightly tinged with            close to N199A. Color, lower surface: Close to 137B to 137C;            towards the apex, close to NN137B; lateral margins,            translucent and close to 157D and apical margins slightly            tinged with close to N199A.        -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.9 cm.            Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm Length, third            peduncle: About 6.5 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About            3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.            Aspect, third peduncle: About 30° from the flowering stem            axis. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent; slightly            glossy. Color: Close to 138A to 138B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets            only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:            About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 150C. Anther size:            About 0.5 mm by 1 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly oblong. Anther            color: Close to 164C. Pollen amount: None observed.            Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets. Quantity:            One per floret. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Style length:            About 6.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145C to 145D. Stigma            diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft, decurrent. Stigma            color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close to 157A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have            not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have    been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum    spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new    Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and    other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under    commercial conditions.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been    observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named‘DLFRADO2’ as illustrated and described.